Kansas to get more than $700,000 in Pfizer settlement

TOPEKA | Kansas expects to receive nearly $741,000 from a settlement with a drug manufacturer over how it promoted two painkillers.

Kansas had joined 32 other states in investigating Pfizer Inc.

Pfizer faced allegations of promoting the now-discontinued painkiller Bextra for “off-label” uses, or uses it was not approved for. States also questioned whether Pfizer improperly promoted another drug, Celebrex, as safer than some over-the-counter medications.

In agreeing to a $60 million settlement with the states, Pfizer denied its promotional practices violated any laws.

Attorney General Steve Six says Kansas will use its part of the settlement to cover its legal expenses, expand consumer education and finance consumer protection efforts.

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